[mythtv-users] Cheap and quiet hardware for SD MythTV - possible?

[Stroller]

On 31 Jul 2009, at 20:23, Eric Sharkey wrote:
> ...
> If you just want a simple-to-use no-maintenance appliance for a
> non-technical user, I really couldn't recommend  MythTV at this time
> on any hardware.


I had already asked this question on IRC when I posted yesterday, but  
I must have done so when no-one was reading as I got no responses.  
Later, after I posted here the channel came alive with cries of "that  
idiot wanting to build a Mythbox so cheap!".

For the benefit of others in a similar position to me, the consensus  
was that £200 is probably still a *minimum* cost for a Mythbox. This  
approximately fits with Gordon's suggestion of the Revo (now £160 when  
I search for it) plus a tuner (cheapest USB DVB-T stick at my local  
computer warehouse is £28.50, and I haven't even checked Linux  
compatibility of that, yet).

I had been of the impression that - since 400mhz Pentium IIs played  
DVDs just fine back in the day - that a 1ghz Pentium III or so would  
be fine for MythTV. Such an old desktop would obviously be too loud,  
but surely an Atom would do just fine? Not at all!

The IRC channel informed me that the playback requirements of DVB-T  
signals may be higher than that of ye olde MPEG-2 and pointed out that  
one has no control over this factor because one can only accept the  
video stream that's being broadcast. Tough luck if it's too demanding  
for your CPU to decode in real time! STBs may have dedicated decoding  
chips. Not only that, but there are concerns with the demands of the  
MySQL backend running on a measly Atom.

The big concern appears to be that, sure, low-end machines may be  
"capable" of running MythTV, but the issues described may result in  
sluggishness, an unresponsive UI and generally dissatisfactory  
performance. Examples were cited.

I'm sorry that I can't remember any of the names of the folks who  
advised me of this, and apologies if I've got any details wrong - my  
IRC client isn't configured to log in-channel conversations.

I get the impression that this is a slightly contentious issue and  
that for every person who says "can't be done", someone else will say  
"works for me". However this should be particularly taken in the  
context that the PVR is to be located at my ma's. The only reasons I  
considered Myth for her is that I fancy using Myth here at my place  
just as soon as I can be bothered to bolt a dish to the wall, and  
because of the appealing notion to be able to remotely schedule  
recordings to take place on her box in the meantime. However £160 for  
an Atom base unit is twice the price of an off-the-shelf PVR and -  
especially considering maintenance, tinkering and WAF (or MAF, as the  
case may be) - there's no way that can be justified.

Many thanks to all who commented, both here & on IRC.

Stroller.